Password

[Pervinca Took]

Is 4 Incanus .. the pages might say Tolkien got ink on them?

[Huinesoron]

1. M ASTER SAMWISE - A Time Lord, a fool? He chooses.
2. E - Earn ill an elvish title, but outside the youngest asks: he fairy enough?
3. R - Engulf a dubious panda for one who's missing one.
4. I NCANUS - In the south, the pages could say what Tolkien got.
5. A RAGORN - Haughty? Not entirely: say rather he knows where he's going.
6. D WARF - Not one of the six (or seven?), but of their kind: forget his name and say what he is.
7. O - Born green and grey: one to his name, but whence the other? Not just his father's son.
8. C - Son of the last to rule; by title he could sail inland from the Havens, but find only one.

Precisely. :)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Tsk ...people lambast you for 'ink on us' then pinch your idea. :D (Actually, I think it was Nerwen who groaned at it).

Is the E one Elf-Friend for Frodo? But how ill-earned, except in the fact that his quest puts the kibosh on the three Elven-Rings?

[Pervinca Took]

Oh, and is 8 Captain of Gondor, for Boromir?

Or Captain of the White Tower?

[Pervinca Took]

Or perhaps Frodo is number 3 as RINGBEARER:

Ring something (circle it) for engulf it.
Bear for a very dubious panda.
Er ....... ? Sounds like 'a' = 1?

As Observant Bilbo in the Rankin-Bass ROTK said: 'Frodo! You are missing a finger!'

[Huinesoron]

1. M ASTER SAMWISE - A Time Lord, a fool? He chooses.
2. E - Earn ill an elvish title, but outside the youngest asks: he fairy enough?
3. R INGBEARER - Engulf a dubious panda for one who's missing one.
4. I NCANUS - In the south, the pages could say what Tolkien got.
5. A RAGORN - Haughty? Not entirely: say rather he knows where he's going.
6. D WARF - Not one of the six (or seven?), but of their kind: forget his name and say what he is.
7. O - Born green and grey: one to his name, but whence the other? Not just his father's son.
8. C APTAIN OF THE WHITE TOWER - Son of the last to rule; by title he could sail inland from the Havens, but find only one.

Dangit, I didn't mean to pinch Ink On Us, but clearly it got stuck in my head. :(

Boromir is indeed Captain of the White Tower (with the second half of the clue pointing at the White Towers west of the Shire), and Frodo... well, you got it, though the 'er' is the dubious part. :)

Two to go! You got halfway to #7 already.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

I was only joking about ink on us. ;)

Is a panda really a kind of bear? 'Er' was clever for 'dubious.'

I guess O is Legolas but using the 4th letter, or Oropher's grandson?

Speaking of which, do we know the names of any of the woodland queen-consorts?

[Huinesoron]

1. M ASTER SAMWISE - A Time Lord, a fool? He chooses.
2. E - Earn ill an elvish title, but outside the youngest asks: he fairy enough?
3. R INGBEARER - Engulf a dubious panda for one who's missing one.
4. I NCANUS - In the south, the pages could say what Tolkien got.
5. A RAGORN - Haughty? Not entirely: say rather he knows where he's going.
6. D WARF - Not one of the six (or seven?), but of their kind: forget his name and say what he is.
7. O ROPHER'S GRANDSON - Born green and grey: one to his name, but whence the other? Not just his father's son.
8. C APTAIN OF THE WHITE TOWER - Son of the last to rule; by title he could sail inland from the Havens, but find only one.

It took me a long time to fit all nine members of the Fellowship into a single riddle.

Now, I thought the panda wasn't a proper bear, but apparently since at least the 80s we've had DNA proof that it is a true ursid. That's the giant panda; the red panda is a musteloid, so related to weasels, skunks, and raccoons. (Also there are apparently only 8 extant bears, including the Sloth Bear (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sloth_Bear_Washington_DC.JPG) with its goofy ears.)

I'm pretty sure we know exactly four names of elves living in the Woodland Realm: Oropher, Thranduil, Legolas, and Galion the butler. Given the low numbers of unmarried women mentioned in the Silmarillion, I don't think there's even a hint at who Oropher's wife might have been... unless someone wants to make a case for Nellas, stalker of Turin? :D Hey, we know she liked unusual people, so a Sinda who would trek across two mountain ranges to live as king of the Silvan folk isn't out of the question...

(She might have to be Thranduil's wife instead, though; as the builder of his Halls, he probably remembered Menegroth personally.)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Indeed! A worthy achievement.

I guess that leaves us with Peregrin, using the second letter, or perhaps Eglantine's son?

I thought the youngest indicated him.

His name suggests wandering, but in Latin, not Elvish.

Oh, hang on .. the title in question would be ERNIL I PHERIANNATH ... and maybe that's the answer, too.

[Huinesoron]

1. M ASTER SAMWISE - A Time Lord, a fool? He chooses.
2. E RNIL I PHERIANNATH - Earn ill an elvish title, but outside the youngest asks: he fairy enough?
3. R INGBEARER - Engulf a dubious panda for one who's missing one.
4. I NCANUS - In the south, the pages could say what Tolkien got.
5. A RAGORN - Haughty? Not entirely: say rather he knows where he's going.
6. D WARF - Not one of the six (or seven?), but of their kind: forget his name and say what he is.
7. O ROPHER'S GRANDSON - Born green and grey: one to his name, but whence the other? Not just his father's son.
8. C APTAIN OF THE WHITE TOWER - Son of the last to rule; by title he could sail inland from the Havens, but find only one.

[Theme: Members of the Fellowship]

'Earnill he fairyenough' indeed. ;) I always feel vaguely guilty when I have to soundalike Elvish that way - I can't help thinking Tolkien wouldn't approve. (Or maybe he would have - 'Galadhriel' is all his fault, after all.)

Over to you, and well-earned!

hS

[Pervinca Took]

That was BRILLIANT, Huinesoron! A really special one. (Look, you've made me shout!)

I posted a longer password yesterday, but I have decided to save it for later, and so have deleted it for now and am posting this one instead.

1. An apple? Indeed, it has what he sounds like – several times over!
2. Royal Artillery in Burma’s capital? Not on. In confusion, see him.
3. Take the third of this firstborn, but refer to his father, and ask only three of the winds.
4. Listen inside the cask for him.
5. He could be a descriptive kenning for a vat.
6. If not strictly his profession, he is famed for being one.
7. An honorific bestowed on him early in the saga.
8. Shagrat decides to do this, in a tower. However, it describes not Shagrat’s prisoner, but one with a much lighter burden.

[Urwen]

8. Feanor? Since what Shagrat did could be described as kinslayin'.

[Pervinca Took]

Not Feanor, I'm afraid.

Kinslayin'? Have you been reading 'The Fresh Prince Of Beleriand?' ;)

[Huinesoron]

I posted a longer password yesterday, but I have decided to save it for later, and so have deleted it for now and am posting this one instead.

:O Are you allowed to do that?! (I jest, I jest... ^_~)

#1 could be PIP(pin), as an apple indeed has several pips. It also has a core, which sounds like a raven's caw, so it could be ROAC (though he mostly just talked).

#6 I'm jumping straight to BURGLAR, because it came straight to mind.

#8... what Shagrat did was run away. I can't help feeling this clue is pointing at Sam (whose burden was Frodo, and noted as light), but I can't link the two. It's be much easier if I mixed his name with Pippin's and called him 'Ranazir', but sadly he takes a B, and 'Ban' doesn't seem to describe what Shagrat does.

#4 might be a dwarf (since they were all stuffed in casks), and #5... I have no idea, but the use of a kenning delights me. :D

hS

EDIT: All my answers seem to be Hobbit-themed. Hrm.

[Pervinca Took]

PIPPIN: An apple? Indeed, it has what he sounds like – several times over!
2. Royal Artillery in Burma’s capital? Not on. In confusion, see him.
3. Take the third of this firstborn, but refer to his father, and ask only three of the winds.
4. Listen inside the cask for him.
5. He could be a descriptive kenning for a vat.
6. If not strictly his profession, he is famed for being one.
7. An honorific bestowed on him early in the saga.
8. Shagrat decides to do this, in a tower. However, it describes not Shagrat’s prisoner, but one with a much lighter burden.

Some excellent ideas there, but barking up the wrong mellyrn except for Pippin. The lighter burden is not Frodo (although a very good idea). (And it isn't Sam's cooking pans, either).

A pippin *is* an apple (such as a Cox's orange pippin). But it also has many a pip in (it) = pip in (sounds like Pippin) x lots.

[Huinesoron]

Well, one out of... lots... ain't bad!

#6 makes me think we're looking for someone who's name is a 'job' description. GANDALF could fit, as he wasn't strictly speaking an elf with a wand, but I'm not sure he was 'famed' for it. There's a whole string of kings of Numenor and Gondor whose names are descriptions of what they did - Tar-Ciryatan was a ship-builder, Hyarmendacil was a victor in the south - but that feels like a stretch too far.

Or, heading back to the Shire: what about Sam's old GAFFER?

#2: The capital of Myanmar is Naypyidaw, but the capital of Burma was Rangoon. The clue seems to suggest that RA should be removed, but I can't make anything from anagrams of 'Ngoon'. Perhaps I need to add 'off' ('not on'), or perhaps I need to remove 'on' instead of RA... rango? Groan! We're clearly in a Gormenghast crossover. :D

hS

[Pervinca Took]

I never said you should *remove* RA from Rangoon. You might have to remove something else, though. ;)

The profession one *is* a profession, but not a Numenorean king, although their descriptive names are fascinating, and I wasn't fully aware of this before. Not any of your other guesses, either, I'm afraid.

[Urwen]

I know who #2 is. I just had an epiphany, and.....

Might #2 be Argon?


Huin already explained why

[Pervinca Took]

Close, but not Argon.

[Huinesoron]

So we add the RA back in and find ARAGORN?

#3 feels like it's pointing towards House Finwe and their habit (well, Feanor's habit mainly) of naming everyone Finwe. Nothing more concrete than that yet.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

PIPPIN: An apple? Indeed, it has what he sounds like – several times over!
ARAGORN: Royal Artillery in Burma’s capital? Not on. In confusion, see him.
3. Take the third of this firstborn, but refer to his father, and ask only three of the winds.
4. Listen inside the cask for him.
5. He could be a descriptive kenning for a vat.
6. If not strictly his profession, he is famed for being one.
7. An honorific bestowed on him early in the saga.
8. Shagrat decides to do this, in a tower. However, it describes not Shagrat’s prisoner, but one with a much lighter burden.

Yes, having removed an O and an N ('Not on.')

Not Finwe. 'Refer to his father' is because I want you to refer to him as someone's son, simply because his actual name will not fit into the puzzle, letter-wise. Think why we would only ask three of the four winds ... or even better, sing it?

[Huinesoron]

If 'take the third' is pointing at the letter, then are we asking the West, South, and North winds if they have heard the horn of DENETHOR'S SON Boromir?

hS

[Pervinca Took]

PIPPIN: An apple? Indeed, it has what he sounds like – several times over!
ARAGORN: Royal Artillery in Burma’s capital? Not on. In confusion, see him.
DENETHOR'S ELDEST SON: Take the third of this firstborn, but refer to his father, and ask only three of the winds.
4. Listen inside the cask for him.
5. He could be a descriptive kenning for a vat.
6. If not strictly his profession, he is famed for being one.
7. An honorific bestowed on him early in the saga.
8. Shagrat decides to do this, in a tower. However, it describes not Shagrat’s prisoner, but one with a much lighter burden.

We are indeed.

[Huinesoron]

I'm wondering if #7 is ELF-FRIEND, which I think was a title given by Gildor to Frodo before he even left the Shire.

Oh, and is #6 GARD(E)NER, for Sam's later surname?

hS

[Pervinca Took]

PIPPIN: An apple? Indeed, it has what he sounds like – several times over!
ARAGORN: Royal Artillery in Burma’s capital? Not on. In confusion, see him.
DENETHOR'S ELDEST SON: Take the third of this firstborn, but refer to his father, and ask only three of the winds.
4. Listen inside the cask for him.
5. He could be a descriptive kenning for a vat.
6. If not strictly his profession, he is famed for being one.
ELF -FRIEND: An honorific bestowed on him early in the saga.
8. Shagrat decides to do this, in a tower. However, it describes not Shagrat’s prisoner, but one with a much lighter burden.

Indeed. Gildor names Frodo Elf-Friend, in 'Three Is Company,' I think.

6 is not Gard(e)ner, though.

[Pervinca Took]

C'mon, Huey ... what does a vat do? ;)

[Huinesoron]

Gets filled with alcohol or dye. I keep wanting to suggest BRANDYBUCK, but unless you seal it up and set it on fire it shouldn't be bucking!

It could also be said to brew or ferment, but I can't fit those to anything... I guess I could start looking for Middle-earth people named Phil Withwine? (Doesn't sound all that unlikely for a Hobbit, actually...)

Or, I suppose, a vat gets charged at 20% on most transaction. Wasn't there a dwarf in Nogrod named Taxes...?

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Brandybuck is *close.*

[Nerwen]

I am wondering what the password can be. The only word I can think of that fits is PANCAKES, which doesn't seem to relate to any of the clues so far.:confused:

[Nerwen]

Is #5 HOLDWINE?

Edit: If so, it's looking more and more as if the theme is "Members of the Fellowship"- again! But with only eight candidates?

[Pervinca Took]

PIPPIN: An apple? Indeed, it has what he sounds like – several times over!
ARAGORN: Royal Artillery in Burma’s capital? Not on. In confusion, see him.
DENETHOR'S ELDEST SON: Take the third of this firstborn, but refer to his father, and ask only three of the winds.
4. Listen inside the cask for him.
HOLDWINE: He could be a descriptive kenning for a vat.
6. If not strictly his profession, he is famed for being one.
ELF -FRIEND: An honorific bestowed on him early in the saga.
8. Shagrat decides to do this, in a tower. However, it describes not Shagrat’s prisoner, but one with a much lighter burden.

THEME: The nine members of the Fellowship (again!)

Quite so.

As with Huey's last puzzle, all nine of the Fellowship are there, and one of them is the password.

[Nerwen]

PIPPIN: An apple? Indeed, it has what he sounds like – several times over!
ARAGORN: Royal Artillery in Burma’s capital? Not on. In confusion, see him.
DENETHOR'S ELDEST SON: Take the third of this firstborn, but refer to his father, and ask only three of the winds.
4. Listen inside the cask for him.
HOLDWINE: He could be a descriptive kenning for a vat.
6. If not strictly his profession, he is famed for being one.
ELF -FRIEND: An honorific bestowed on him early in the saga.
8. Shagrat decides to do this, in a tower. However, it describes not Shagrat’s prisoner, but one with a much lighter burden.

THEME: The nine members of the Fellowship (again!)

Quite so.

As with Huey's last puzzle, all nine of the Fellowship are there, and one of them is the password.
For some reason it didn't occur to me that the pan-something password might refer to an individual. So... we've got Gandalf, Sam, Gimli and Legolas to go. Which of them has an alias/nickname/descriptor that would fit...? And which of them is a verb?. (see #8).

[Nerwen]

I think #4 is THARKÛN ("hark" inside "tun"), giving PANTH_E_

Uh... PANTHIEF?:confused:

[Nerwen]

I'm thinking #8 most likely refers to the "lighter burden" of Gimli the Lock-bearer. But then, the first part of the clue... what...?

Edit: I get it- it is LOCKBEARER! Because Shagrat LOCKED the BEARER in the tower, right?

[Nerwen]

So...

I believe the password is PANTHAEL (Elvish translation of "Samwise"), making the final clue ARCHER (i.e. Legolas).

[Pervinca Took]

PIPPIN: An apple? Indeed, it has what he sounds like – several times over!
ARAGORN: Royal Artillery in Burma’s capital? Not on. In confusion, see him.
DENETHOR'S ELDEST SON: Take the third of this firstborn, but refer to his father, and ask only three of the winds.
THARKUN: Listen inside the cask for him.
HOLDWINE: He could be a descriptive kenning for a vat.
ARCHER: If not strictly his profession, he is famed for being one.
ELF-FRIEND: An honorific bestowed on him early in the saga.
LOCKBEARER: Shagrat decides to do this, in a tower. However, it describes not Shagrat’s prisoner, but one with a much lighter burden.

THEME: The nine members of the Fellowship (again!)

All perfectly correct!

'Panthael' does not translate Samwise, but means full-wise, which Aragorn says in his letter would be a fairer name for him.

Kudos should go to Huinesoron, as I would not have thought of doing a 'Fellowship' password on my own. That was why I removed the original password I posted (which no-one had started). I tried for ages to get three different ones to work. With Peregrin and Holdwine as the password, I managed all but two clues and would have had to use other letters and/or run things backwards. With Panthael I had to cheat as well, on one, plus use a couple of 'vague' answers, so I gave up. Then I looked at the Panthael one again in the morning and thought it wasn't too bad.


Well done Nerwen and Huey, and over to Nerwen!

[Galadriel55]

Which just goes to show once again the merits of this thread: you can have two passwords in a row about the same thing and yet each one is still unique in style and challenging to solve.

[Pervinca Took]

Meant to ask this before, but:

rango? Groan! We're clearly in a Gormenghast crossover.

(For Huey) - I have read Titus Groan and Gormenghast, but I don't remember a Rango - can you enlighten me?


P.S. Phil Withwine was inspired!

[Pervinca Took]

Oh ... Titus Groan ... groan is an anagram of rango, whatever rango means ....

[Nerwen]

New password. In a surprising turn of events, the theme in not "Members of the Fellowship" this time. That should help you narrow it down!:smokin:

Oh, and the password is not made up of initial letters.

1. Earth's anonymous gourmands.
2. Mordor's misnamed alarms.
3. Bewildering- me, in a conflict? What would my dad say, if I had one?
4. Emo feline at the Pelennor.
5. ...but are they worms now?
6. Emaciated king of beasts confused for even more ravenous predator.

[Pervinca Took]

1. Hobbits?
2. Silent Watchers?

[Nerwen]

#2 is correct; you need to be more literal for #1.

1. Earth's anonymous gourmands.
SILENT WATCHERS: Mordor's misnamed alarms.
3. Bewildering- me, in a conflict? What would my dad say, if I had one?
4. Emo feline at the Pelennor.
5. ...but are they worms now?
6. Emaciated king of beasts confused for even more ravenous predator.

[Pervinca Took]

Hole-dwellers?

[Nerwen]

Hole-dwellers?
No, it's nothing to do with hobbits. I meant you need to be more literal in your interpretation of the clue.

[Pervinca Took]

Eat earth, dig deep ... Willow man or tree roots?

[Nerwen]

Dig deeper! And think about that word "anonymous".

[Pervinca Took]

Not the Dead Marshes?

[Nerwen]

not the dead marshes?
d
e
e
e
p
e
r
!

[Pervinca Took]

A Nameless Fear ... ? Balrogs? Uruloki or whatever they are?

[Nerwen]

A Nameless Fear ... ? Balrogs? Uruloki or whatever they are?
No... but these are neighbours. In the sub-basement. ("Nameless" is indeed the synonym you need, though.)

[Pervinca Took]

Is 5 just dragons, or firedrakes?

[Nerwen]

Nope.

[Galadriel55]

Some sort of Unnamed Things?

A vague memory from the Mirth forum hints Ringwraiths / Nazgul for 5. Something about nine worms trying to dig under Aragorn.

[Nerwen]

Some sort of Unnamed Things?

A vague memory from the Mirth forum hints Ringwraiths / Nazgul for 5. Something about nine worms trying to dig under Aragorn.
"Unnamed Things"... so close!

But no, it's not Ringwraiths for #5. None of this relies on in-jokes.

[Pervinca Took]

Things Unnamed? ;)

Terrors Unnamed? Unnamed Terrors?

Please let it be Nameless No-Nos!

[Nerwen]

As noted above, it's "Nameless ____". The second word has also been supplied by the two of you- just have to put them together.

It comes from a specific quote, which I believe is the sole reference to these creatures.

[Pervinca Took]

Unnamed Fears?

[Nerwen]

No, it's "Nameless ______". Need the second word.

I mentioned them as "neighbours" of Balrogs- more strictly, that's of one specific Balrog.

[Galadriel55]

No, it's "Nameless ______". Need the second word.

I mentioned them as "neighbours" of Balrogs- more strictly, that's of one specific Balrog.

Well yes, the things in Moria - if we could only remember how they were referred by. Nameless Things, the one combo not tried yet?

[Nerwen]

Well yes, the things in Moria - if we could only remember how they were referred by. Nameless Things, the one combo not tried yet?
That's it!

Far, far below the deepest delving of the Dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked there, but I will bring no report to darken the light of day.
:eek:

NAMELESS THINGS: Earth's anonymous gourmands.
SILENT WATCHERS: Mordor's misnamed alarms.
3. Bewildering- me, in a conflict? What would my dad say, if I had one?
4. Emo feline at the Pelennor.
5. ...but are they worms now?
6. Emaciated king of beasts confused for even more ravenous predator.

[Pervinca Took]

I think the password, like the answers guessed so far, will be plural, but worth a guess: MEWLIP, reading down the third column?

[Nerwen]

I think the password , like the answers guessed so far, will be plural, but worth a guess: MEWLIP, reading down the third column?
A good guess, and one that would fit the theme- but no, sorry.

[Pervinca Took]

I thought EMO was an anagram indicator, but I can't get anything by scrambling FELINE.

The only monsters I am aware of there being at the Pelennor (apart from the Nazgul) are the FELL BEASTS.

[Galadriel55]

There were also Mumakil, but with no more support behind it.

[Nerwen]

I thought EMO was an anagram indicator, but I can't get anything by scrambling FELINE.
Not an anagram. A (near) synonym. You're looking for substitutions.

The only monsters I am aware of there being at the Pelennor (apart from the Nazgul) are the FELL BEASTS.

Who said the theme was "monsters"?;)

As it happens, most of the answers are monsters, but that's not why they qualify. They all have one specific thing in common.

Lastly- I'm not sure if it will help or hinder you to learn that the straight part of the clue both is and isn't important. That is, it won't really help you get the answer (the Pelennor was rather crowded), but it will once you do.

[Galadriel55]

Who said the theme was "monsters"?;)

As it happens, most of the answers are monsters, but that's not why they qualify. They all have one specific thing in common.

No proper names? :p


5. Wereworms. Thought of it for a long time, but only figured out now that they were worms.

[Nerwen]

No proper names? :p


5. Wereworms. Thought of it for a long time, but only figured out now that they were worms.
Correct!

But no, the thing in common is not a lack of proper names. You just haven't solved the ones that have them yet.

NAMELESS THINGS: Earth's anonymous gourmands.
SILENT WATCHERS: Mordor's misnamed alarms.
3. Bewildering- me, in a conflict? What would my dad say, if I had one?
4. Emo feline at the Pelennor.
WERE-WORMS: ...but are they worms now?
6. Emaciated king of beasts confused for even more ravenous predator.

[Pervinca Took]

6. UNGOLIANT.

I had been trying to 'thin' lion by removing one or two letters, but finding no other part of the clue to supply the missing letters.

However, when I typed the name just now, I realised that we have a confused but GAUNT LION. Nice one!

[Nerwen]

UNGOLIANT it is!

NAMELESS THINGS: Earth's anonymous gourmands.
SILENT WATCHERS: Mordor's misnamed alarms.
3. Bewildering- me, in a conflict? What would my dad say, if I had one?
4. Emo feline at the Pelennor.
WERE-WORMS: ...but are they worms now?
UNGOLIANT: Emaciated king of beasts confused for even more ravenous predator.

[Huinesoron]

An emo feline is a GOTH MOG... :D

(And since I was away at the time: excellent password from Pervinca! I'm astounded that we managed two passwords doing exactly the same thing, but so completely different from each other!)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

One common answer: Aragorn. (But different clues for him). It was such a brilliant idea to do the Fellowship as a password. I had never thought of it, but once I'd seen you accomplish it, I had to have a go too!

I thought of Goth for emo, but I was stuck on tom and cat ....

[Huinesoron]

Pervinca - you also managed to pull out names I'd totally forgotten existed; I'm embarrassed to not have had Holdwine on my lists, but Panthael is beyond even that.

Coming back to the password in hand: the 'if I had one' for #3 suggests we might want the Oldest and Fatherless, Tom Bombadil himself, but I can't fit him into the rest of the clue.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Bombadil has 3 other names. Dwarves called him FORN, men ORALD, and elves IARWAIN BEN-ADAR (I might have spelled that wrong).

[Nerwen]

GOTHMOG is correct, and Huey and Pervinca are very close to the final answer...

NAMELESS THINGS: Earth's anonymous gourmands.
SILENT WATCHERS: Mordor's misnamed alarms.
3. Bewildering- me, in a conflict? What would my dad say, if I had one?
GOTHMOG: Emo feline at the Pelennor.
WERE-WORMS: ...but are they worms now?
UNGOLIANT: Emaciated king of beasts confused for even more ravenous predator.

[Pervinca Took]

Are they all things that are basically immortal, unless they are killed?

If Bombadil is close, I can't see how we get to the final answer. None of his names seem to have the elements required.

[Nerwen]

"Bewildering" is an anagram indicator.

And no, the theme is not "immortal creatures".

I mentioned "at the Pelennor" as being a hint towards the overall answer/theme. Now that the clue has been solved, I will explain that it's very important that it was that Gothmog, and not Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs. You just have to think why that might be.

The phrasing of the "were-worms" clue is also a hint.

[Pervinca Took]

IARWAIN is an anagram of 'I in a war.'

'Ben' I think means 'son or daughter of' in Arabic?

Yes, I was trying to find the answer with 'war' for conflict, but also wondering whether conflict or bewildering was the anagram indicator.

[Huinesoron]

Nice catch, Pervinca! Hope it's right. ^_^

'Ben' (or rather, 'Pen', mutated due to being the second word), means 'without' in Sindarin, but I'm sure Tolkien was aware it also looks like a Hebrew(?) name (a la 'Ben-Hur'). Has Balfrog posted that one as evidence of the Biblical connections in the Bombadil chapters yet...?

I guess the theme is something about creatures/beings which we don't know what they were. Ungoliant may have been a giant spider, but she was also a Maia/nature spirit/incarnation of darkness/???. (Latest crackpot theory: when Bombadil says he 'knew the Dark under the Stars', he was talking about Ungoliant... XD.)

No idea what that makes the password, though.

hS

[Nerwen]

IARWAIN BEN-ADAR it is!

"Ben" means "son of" in Hebrew (don't know about Arabic, but they're related). However, I guess that's a coincidence, as BEN-ADAR means "fatherless" in Elvish, where the "ben-" element must mean "without".

NAMELESS THINGS: Earth's anonymous gourmands.
SILENT WATCHERS: Mordor's misnamed alarms.
IARWAIN BEN-ADAR: Bewildering- me, in a conflict? What would my dad say, if I had one?
GOTHMOG: Emo feline at the Pelennor.
WERE-WORMS: ...but are they worms now?
UNGOLIANT: Emaciated king of beasts confused for even more ravenous predator.

Now you just have to work out what all these persons, beast and monsters have in common.

Edit: x'd with Huey. Correct on the theme. They're all beings of unknown nature. The password expresses this concept.

[Pervinca Took]

Did Huinesoron guess the connection in his last post? (Just wondering if he cross-posted with you).

Is the connection the password, or is something hidden in the letters of the answers too?

[Pervinca Took]

I liked the Bombadil's boots icon when you declared Iarwain Ben-Adar to be correct.

Well, if the password reflects the theme ...

... the origins of these beings are unknown or hidden, and the password is so well-hidden that we will never find that either? Or it is simply unknown?

[Nerwen]

I liked the Bombadil's boots icon when you declared Iarwain Ben-Adar to be correct.

Well, if the password reflects the theme ...

... the origins of these beings are unknown or hidden, and the password is so well-hidden that we will never find that either? Or it is simply unknown?
That would be clever of me! No, it's just a set of connected letters.

[Pervinca Took]

OK ... so do we count a space or a hyphen when looking for the password, or do we pretend the space or hyphen is not there?

[Nerwen]

OK ... so do we count a space or a hyphen when looking for the password, or do we pretend the space or hyphen is not there?
Pretend it's not there.

[Pervinca Took]

I can't find anything at all - have even tried the corners and every word in elvish for hidden or concealed.

There is another being of unknown origin - the WATCHER in the water, which could be highlighted in 'Silent Watchers,' but ....

[Nerwen]

Nope, sorry.

[Huinesoron]

Well, if you read the third letter from the end from right to left, you get 'ARM DEN'... I'm sure we could come up with a convoluted explanation!

It's interesting, though presumably coincidence, that the first three answers are all the same length.

hS

EDIT: Diagonally right from the first 'E' in Nameless things gets you 'ENIGMT'... is the password 'ENIGMA'? If you bounce off the S in Were-Worms you do hit Ungoliant's A.

[Nerwen]

ENIGMA is correct. It slants down from left to right, then left for the final A.

NAMELESS THINGS: Earth's anonymous gourmands.
SILENT WATCHERS: Mordor's misnamed alarms.
IARWAIN BEN-ADAR: Bewildering- me, in a conflict? What would my dad say, if I had one?
GOTHMOG: Emo feline at the Pelennor.
WERE-WORMS: ...but are they worms now?
UNGOLIANT: Emaciated king of beasts confused for even more ravenous predator.

Theme: Beings of unknown nature.

Well done, Huey!

[Huinesoron]

I feel like we just spend longer on finding the password than on most of the clues... well done!

1. - You might spy them from far off, but the hunters would see you first.
2. - "He's red with wine," they slurred of Fingolfin before his death.
3. - Boys with German flowers in the mortal lands.
4. - Turin held that it was quite rude of the sun.
5. - If those who love spelling are dead, plainly within this they'll see you coming.
6. - Not a mere name: pool your thoughts, think in Sindarin, and dream of the sea.
7. - Beneath the hills, Elvish, ancient, and French: the (not a) sun goes round.
8. - It sucks to have a lisp - the portal's on chloride before the night's shade.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

1. Sheep, spied by the Great Eagles in 'The Hobbit?'

[Huinesoron]

Not sheep, no eagles, and not from The Hobbit. :)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Hobbits, with the Rangers as the hunters? ;)

[Huinesoron]

Not that either.

I should mention that all the clues except #6 include a direct cryptic clue to the full name I'm after, and all of them also have a straight clue.

hS

[Nerwen]

Is it significant that #8 has "chloride" not "chlorine"?

[Huinesoron]

It is absolutely significant. :)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Just a guess at MITHEITHEL for 3.

Mit = German for 'with.'
He x 2 for 'boys.'
It's a flower (river).
It's in Middle-earth (mortal lands) or within ML (although that uses the M twice).

(P.S. Well done finding 'Enigma,' and thanks to Nerwen for a great puzzle!)

[Nerwen]

Then is it (#8) DORTHONION? ("Door'th on ion"). Former name of Taur-nu-fuin, the Forest Under Nightshade.

[Huinesoron]

1. - You might spy them from far off, but the hunters would see you first.
2. - "He's red with wine," they slurred of Fingolfin before his death.
3. - Boys with German flowers in the mortal lands.
4. - Turin held that it was quite rude of the sun.
5. - If those who love spelling are dead, plainly within this they'll see you coming.
6. - Not a mere name: pool your thoughts, think in Sindarin, and dream of the sea.
7. - Beneath the hills, Elvish, ancient, and French: the (not a) sun goes round.
8. DORTHONION - It sucks to have a lisp - the portal's on chloride before the night's shade.

Dorthonion for exactly the reason Nerwen said. Pervinca, sadly no on Mitheithel, though that's a fantastic answer! :) The 'mortal lands' are much smaller than the entirety of Middle-earth in this case.

hS

[Huinesoron]

Perhaps a hint... all 8 clues are place-names, and all except #5 are in Sindarin. #6 is probably going to be the hardest, because it's an obscure variant of a fairly obscure place.

Um... and every clue except #6 either includes a sound-alike of the answer, or constructs it from synonyms. No anagrams are required. :)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

The Turin one isn't Gurthang, then. ;)

Just a shot in the dark ... DAGORLAD for the password?

[Huinesoron]

No and no, though you're right that 'Turin held' is the straight clue on #4. :)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Maybe Gil-Galad?

[Huinesoron]

Also not Gil-Galad.

(Are you just guessing any 8-letter word ending in D because the clues are too convoluted?)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

At first I thought the password might be another place, and Estolad is too short.

Then I wondered if the places might all be connected with Gil-Galad.

But I have tried to solve all the clues and failed.

[Pervinca Took]

For instance, I think 3 should have 'blumen' in it. But I don't blumen know what else. Guys/lads doesn't combine to make anything meaningful.

And sol is the only synonym for sun I can think of (Turin clue).

[Huinesoron]

For instance, I think 3 should have 'blumen' in it. But I don't blumen know what else. Guys/lads doesn't combine to make anything meaningful.

And sol is the only synonym for sun I can think of (Turin clue).

It's not Blumen; you need a specific flower. One of your 'boy' words is useful, though.

Sol is actually a step in the right direction, but Sol was a Roman god; I'd look in an older mythology if I was you. :)

hS

[Nerwen]

It's not Blumen; you need a specific flower. One of your 'boy' words is useful, though.

Sol is actually a step in the right direction, but Sol was a Roman god; I'd look in an older mythology if I was you. :)

hS
AMON RÛDH? (You know it's pronounced "ruth", not "rude", right?)

[Huinesoron]

1. - You might spy them from far off, but the hunters would see you first.
2. - "He's red with wine," they slurred of Fingolfin before his death.
3. - Boys with German flowers in the mortal lands.
4. AMON RUDH - Turin held that it was quite rude of the sun.
5. - If those who love spelling are dead, plainly within this they'll see you coming.
6. - Not a mere name: pool your thoughts, think in Sindarin, and dream of the sea.
7. - Beneath the hills, Elvish, ancient, and French: the (not a) sun goes round.
8. DORTHONION - It sucks to have a lisp - the portal's on chloride before the night's shade.

You're right, I should have said 'kind of rude', or even 'looks rude'. But Sindarin has never been my forte, and I kind of forgot. ^_^

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Bald hill ... but where's the sun?

[Nerwen]

Bald hill ... but where's the sun?
Amon- as in Amon-Ra.

[Nerwen]

I think #1 refers to FAROTH, the "Hills of the Hunters", unless it's something that can be seen from that location- Amon Ethir, the "Hill of Spies"? Not quite sure how the elements of the clue fit together.

[Nerwen]

Oh, and if #2 is ERED WETHRIN...:mad:

[Huinesoron]

1. FAROTH - You might spy them from far off, but the hunters would see you first.
2. - "He's red with wine," they slurred of Fingolfin before his death.
3. - Boys with German flowers in the mortal lands.
4. AMON RUDH - Turin held that it was quite rude of the sun.
5. - If those who love spelling are dead, plainly within this they'll see you coming.
6. - Not a mere name: pool your thoughts, think in Sindarin, and dream of the sea.
7. - Beneath the hills, Elvish, ancient, and French: the (not a) sun goes round.
8. DORTHONION - It sucks to have a lisp - the portal's on chloride before the night's shade.

As you say, the hunters are a straight clue, but you might also see the Hills of the Hunters from "FAROFF".

It probably works best if you know the Estuary English accent, which rejects the concept of 'th' entirely.

hS

[Nerwen]

#6 is UMBOTH MUILIN ("pools of twilight"), alternative name of Aelin-uial ("meres of twilight"), where Ulmo sent dreams to Turgon and Finrod.

Is the password FELAGUND?

Edit: Yes, I got the "far off" pun, but I wasn't sure how the clue worked.

[Huinesoron]

#6 is UMBOTH MUILIN ("pools of twilight"), alternative name of Aelin-uial ("meres of twilight"), where Ulmo sent dreams to Turgon and Finrod.

Is the password FELAGUND?

1. FAROTH - You might spy them from far off, but the hunters would see you first.
2. E - "He's red with wine," they slurred of Fingolfin before his death.
3. L - Boys with German flowers in the mortal lands.
4. AMON RUDH - Turin held that it was quite rude of the sun.
5. G - If those who love spelling are dead, plainly within this they'll see you coming.
6. UMBOTH MUILIN - Not a mere name: pool your thoughts, think in Sindarin, and dream of the sea.
7. N - Beneath the hills, Elvish, ancient, and French: the (not a) sun goes round.
8. DORTHONION - It sucks to have a lisp - the portal's on chloride before the night's shade.

That's the one(s)!

Edit: Yes, I got the "far off" pun, but I wasn't sure how the clue worked.

Well, if I didn't make it clear already, the clue should be read as:

"You might spy [the location name under discussion] from[/in] FAR OFF | (but) the hunters would see you first [at this location]."

Cryptic, then straight.

hS

PS: I should note that Umboth Muilin/Aelin-uial doesn't quite 100% fit the theme. It probably did at some point in time, though. ~hS

[Nerwen]

PS: I should note that Umboth Muilin/Aelin-uial doesn't quite 100% fit the theme. It probably did at some point in time, though. ~hS
Then what can the theme possibly be...?

[Nerwen]

Is #5 just the GUARDED PLAIN?

[Huinesoron]

1. FAROTH - You might spy them from far off, but the hunters would see you first.
2. E - "He's red with wine," they slurred of Fingolfin before his death.
3. L - Boys with German flowers in the mortal lands.
4. AMON RUDH - Turin held that it was quite rude of the sun.
5. GUARDED PLAIN - If those who love spelling are dead, plainly within this they'll see you coming.
6. UMBOTH MUILIN - Not a mere name: pool your thoughts, think in Sindarin, and dream of the sea.
7. N - Beneath the hills, Elvish, ancient, and French: the (not a) sun goes round.
8. DORTHONION - It sucks to have a lisp - the portal's on chloride before the night's shade.

As (mis)spelled out in the middle of the clue. :)

hS

[Nerwen]

I'd think #3 might be LADROS, but according to my sources the German for "rose" is simply "die Rose".:confused:

[Pervinca Took]

*In awe*

I really am rubbish at Silmarillion place-names. I thought of Felagund after Gil-Galad, but better the next password goes to someone who's actually guessed the clues. :D

[Huinesoron]

1. FAROTH - You might spy them from far off, but the hunters would see you first.
2. E - "He's red with wine," they slurred of Fingolfin before his death.
3. LADROS - Boys with German flowers in the mortal lands.
4. AMON RUDH - Turin held that it was quite rude of the sun.
5. GUARDED PLAIN - If those who love spelling are dead, plainly within this they'll see you coming.
6. UMBOTH MUILIN - Not a mere name: pool your thoughts, think in Sindarin, and dream of the sea.
7. N - Beneath the hills, Elvish, ancient, and French: the (not a) sun goes round.
8. DORTHONION - It sucks to have a lisp - the portal's on chloride before the night's shade.

:-/ I desperately need to start checking all the bits of my clues before I post them. In fairness, I was thinking of this carol (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es_ist_ein_Ros_entsprungen), which definitely uses 'Ros', though it sometimes comes with an apostrophe.

Two to go!

hS

[Nerwen]

NARGOTHROND for #6? "Go(e)th rond" for the "ancient" and "French" parts, but I don't get the "sun" part (assuming this is right). The rest would be the straight clue.

[Huinesoron]

1. FAROTH - You might spy them from far off, but the hunters would see you first.
2. E - "He's red with wine," they slurred of Fingolfin before his death.
3. LADROS - Boys with German flowers in the mortal lands.
4. AMON RUDH - Turin held that it was quite rude of the sun.
5. GUARDED PLAIN - If those who love spelling are dead, plainly within this they'll see you coming.
6. UMBOTH MUILIN - Not a mere name: pool your thoughts, think in Sindarin, and dream of the sea.
7. NARGOTHROND - Beneath the hills, Elvish, ancient, and French: the (not a) sun goes round.
8. DORTHONION - It sucks to have a lisp - the portal's on chloride before the night's shade.

In Quenya, the sun is Anar. If you remove the first A ('not a'), you get Nar. :D

One to go!

hS

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

Is 2 Eithel Sirion?

[Huinesoron]

It isn't, though it's pretty geographically close.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Ered Wethrin?

[Huinesoron]

1. FAROTH - You might spy them from far off, but the hunters would see you first.
2. ERED WETHRIN - "He's red with wine," they slurred of Fingolfin before his death.
3. LADROS - Boys with German flowers in the mortal lands.
4. AMON RUDH - Turin held that it was quite rude of the sun.
5. GUARDED PLAIN - If those who love spelling are dead, plainly within this they'll see you coming.
6. UMBOTH MUILIN - Not a mere name: pool your thoughts, think in Sindarin, and dream of the sea.
7. NARGOTHROND - Beneath the hills, Elvish, ancient, and French: the (not a) sun goes round.
8. DORTHONION - It sucks to have a lisp - the portal's on chloride before the night's shade.

[Theme: The domains of Finrod Felagund (and places on the border)]

Correct! With "He's red with wine" heavily slurring to be a soundalike. (I see Nerwen actually guessed this one earlier... sorry, missed that!)

Inspired by the fact that, taking in the various places subject to him, Finrod's domains totally dwarf those of the High King and of Thingol.

Well done to everyone, and over to Nerwen.

hS

[Nerwen]

1. FAROTH - You might spy them from far off, but the hunters would see you first.
2. ERED WETHRIN - "He's red with wine," they slurred of Fingolfin before his death.
3. LADROS - Boys with German flowers in the mortal lands.
4. AMON RUDH - Turin held that it was quite rude of the sun.
5. GUARDED PLAIN - If those who love spelling are dead, plainly within this they'll see you coming.
6. UMBOTH MUILIN - Not a mere name: pool your thoughts, think in Sindarin, and dream of the sea.
7. NARGOTHROND - Beneath the hills, Elvish, ancient, and French: the (not a) sun goes round.
8. DORTHONION - It sucks to have a lisp - the portal's on chloride before the night's shade.

[Theme: The domains of Finrod Felagund (and places on the border)]

Correct! With "He's red with wine" heavily slurring to be a soundalike. (I see Nerwen actually guessed this one earlier... sorry, missed that!)
Oh, it *was* that after all! At there I was thinking I'd misjudged you!:p

Inspired by the fact that, taking in the various places subject to him, Finrod's domains totally dwarf those of the High King and of Thingol.
Ah, well, it's the quiet ones you have to watch (as we say in Werewolf).;)

[Huinesoron]

Ah, well, it's the quiet ones you have to watch (as we say in Werewolf).;)

... House Finwe Plays Werewolf was something I didn't know I needed.


Celegorm and Curufin are always accused of collusion - except when they actually are wolves together.
Orodreth is infamous for the time he drew Seer, yet still ended up voting with a confirmed wolf to lynch a confirmed villager.
The one time Idril played, the game ended on Day One; it turns out having an actual Seer present makes things rather easy.
Celebrimbor only ever hosts weird, off-the-wall variants. He says he's trying to perfect the rules, but it never seems to work.
Aredhel is always supremely confident in her suspicions. She's not often right, but by golly she's confident.
Finrod is actually worryingly bad at the game: he has a tendency to trust everyone, and is always surprised to be killed.


... I should probably take this to Mirth before I get carried away.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Is there a new password, Nerwen?

[Nerwen]

Is there a new password, Nerwen?

Not yet- I've been rather occupied the last few days, sorry. I'll get onto it!

[Nerwen]

Sorry about the delay!

Nice easy one this time..l

1. Namesake of Hiawatha's beloved gives name to another doomed maiden.
2. It is rich, yet a disfigurement.
3. Call softly; it is cold.
4. I'm addressing you- bow your head deeply. Shepherds bathe here!
5. Cheer up flower!

[Huinesoron]

Is #3 HAIL? It is cold, though I'm not sure I'd call hailing someone a particularly soft call.

hS

[Nerwen]

Is #3 HAIL? It is cold, though I'm not sure I'd call hailing someone a particularly soft call.

hS
No. You are looking for a relatively recent synonym for "call", with a specific (real-world) context.

Meanwhile, the answer is Middle-earth specific.

[Pervinca Took]

1. Hiawatha's beloved was Minnehaha, meaning 'laughing water.'

Not sure about the water, but is the answer the doomed LALAITH?

[Pervinca Took]

5. Gladden?

[Galadriel55]

3. Ringlo

[Nerwen]

Correct on #3 and #5. Pervinca, you're almost there with #1, but you need, not Lalaith herself, but the thing for which she was named (and which translates roughly to "laughing water").

1. Namesake of Hiawatha's beloved gives name to another doomed maiden.
2. It is rich, yet a disfigurement.
RINGLÓ: Call softly; it is cold.
4. I'm addressing you- bow your head deeply. Shepherds bathe here!
GLADDEN: Cheer up flower!

[Pervinca Took]

Is the password NAROG and the theme water/rivers?

[Pervinca Took]

And NEN LALAITH for the first clue? (It means 'Water of Laughter,' apparently).

[Nerwen]

Right on all three counts!

NEN LALAITH Namesake of Hiawatha's beloved gives name to another doomed maiden.
A It is rich, yet a disfigurement.
RINGLÓ: Call softly; it is cold.
O I'm addressing you- bow your head deeply. Shepherds bathe here!
GLADDEN: Cheer up flower!

[Pervinca Took]

2. ASCAR? Why rich, though?

... Ah ... Doriath's treasure was apparently lost in there, and then it became known as Goldenbed/Rathloriel.

[Pervinca Took]

3. ONODLO.

(Shepherds a metaphor for the Ents?)

[Nerwen]

NEN LALAITH: Namesake of Hiawatha's beloved gives name to another doomed maiden.
ASCAR: is rich, yet a disfigurement.
RINGLÓ: Call softly; it is cold.
ONODLÓ: I'm addressing you- bow your head deeply. Shepherds bathe here!
GLADDEN: Cheer up flower!

Theme: Rivers.

Well done, and over to Pervinca!

[Pervinca Took]

Nice one, Nerwen! :)

This is the one I put on hold because 'Panthael' was a response to Huey's 'Meriadoc.' Hope you like it.

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
3. Oo, they’re awful!
4. Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
6. Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
7. Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
15. Much harder than feather-beds!
16. Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
17. Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
18. Inanimate bogs.

[Huinesoron]

Based on the equine hybrid, is #6 EMYN MUIL?

(Pretty sure that leads to a rugby player named Lemon; eh, I've heard weirder things.)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
3. Oo, they’re awful!
4. Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
7. Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
15. Much harder than feather-beds!
16. Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
17. Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
18. Inanimate bogs.

The rugby player is Emlyn Hughes. He was one of the team leaders on the British sports quiz show 'A Question Of Sport' for years, I think in the 80's and possibly also 90's, (Bill Beaumont was the other), and a very warm character. Died in middle age. And yes, a mule is a horse-donkey hybrid.

(The 'we hear?' only applied to mule/mule. Aucun citron ici).

[Galadriel55]

18. Dead Marshes.

And can I hazard a very straight forward SHELOB for the terror of Cirith Ungol?

[Pervinca Took]

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
3. Oo, they’re awful!
4. Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
7. Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
15. Much harder than feather-beds!
16. Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
17. Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

Shelob is IN number 12, but can you also give me a synonym for terror?

[Galadriel55]

7 isn't Amon Hen or something like that?

[Pervinca Took]

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
3. Oo, they’re awful!
4. Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
15. Much harder than feather-beds!
16. Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
17. Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

Something *exactly* like that! AMON as an anagram of 'moan' and HEN for chicken.

[Huinesoron]

Oh, where did Aragorn sing his excerpt from the Lay of Leithian?

[Checks]

Is #17 either WEATHERTOP or AMON SUL?

(I love the fact that Aragorn's dialogue here goes 'no, we shouldn't talk about Sauron here - let's chat about his old boss instead! Oh no! They found us anyway!')

hS

[Pervinca Took]

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
3. Oo, they’re awful!
4. Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
15. Much harder than feather-beds!
16. Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

It wasn't the *location* that brought them to the camp-fire, was it? ;) But I'll give it to you, (see answer above), for realising it was Aragorn's singing that did it, and because it's perhaps an unusual kind of answer to a clue.

And yes, I think it's funny too. Don't say Mordor and call him You Know Who, but let's have a song and a fire. :D Especially because I tend to think of Robert Stephens's Aragorn, and how pompous he sounds when he's telling them off (although not quite as pompous as when he becomes king!)

And yes, there is a theme. And also one odd-one-out/sort of trick answer. (Only one, though).

[Galadriel55]

Wonder if 16 could refer to Elves or Singing that scared away a Nazgul in a short cut through the Shire.

[Pervinca Took]

No, but you're in roughly the right part of the right book.

[Nerwen]

No, but you're in roughly the right part of the right book.
Mushrooms? The "hated road" then being Farmer Maggot's lane?

...So the "Terror of Cirith Ungol" is not Shelob? What then, I wonder?

[Galadriel55]

Re: terror, maybe Shelob's LAIR if she's in it.

[Nerwen]

Could #4 be NEEKERBREEKERS?

[Pervinca Took]

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
3. Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
15. Much harder than feather-beds!
16. Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

It IS Shelob ... but it's a phrase: '------ of Shelob.' The ------ means something similar to terror. It's just the phrase I needed in order to get the right initial letter.

The phrase is used in the books once, too.

I used 'onomatopoeic tormentors' for Neekerbreekers once before, too, but a very long time ago. ;)

[Pervinca Took]

Mushrooms? The "hated road" then being Farmer Maggot's lane?

Good idea, but no.

The answer refers to a specific sentence in Book I of LOTR.

[Pervinca Took]

The sentence I referred to, which contains the answer to clue 16, IS in Book 1, but a bit later than I had thought. I've checked, and it's in 'A Knife In The Dark.'

Copying the clues onto this page:

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
3. Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
15. Much harder than feather-beds!
16. Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

[Nerwen]

Okay... I've located the "hateful road" quote, but I'm still not sure what it brings other than epiphany of danger. Hmmn. Must give it further thought.

Meanwhile- #3 raises dim memories of some early satire/critique/whatever of "Lord of the Rings" entitled something like, "Ooo, those awful ORCS". Is that it?

[Pervinca Took]

Correct! It was an article by Edmund Wilson.

Regarding clue 16, Frodo at this point, for the first time, realises his danger and something else. Look at the sentence again.

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
15. Much harder than feather-beds!
16. Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

[Nerwen]

Correct! It was an article by Edmund Wilson.

Regarding clue 16, Frodo at this point, for the first time, realises his danger and something else. Look at the sentence again.

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
15. Much harder than feather-beds!
16. Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

BLACK RIDERS, then? I was thinking they were the "epiphany of danger", but that's actually a separate and slightly earlier feeling.

[Pervinca Took]

No. It's in the same sentence. Quote me the sentence, and I'll tell you if it's the right one.

[Nerwen]

No. It's in the same sentence. Quote me the sentence, and I'll tell you if it's the right one.
That seems an excessive degree of spoonfeeding, Pervinca!

Is the sense of it actually "Hateful road brings epiphany of danger- and (epiphany of) this"? As opposed to "Hateful road brings epiphany of danger- and (also brings) this."

Which would make "this" HOMELESSNESS?

[Pervinca Took]

Tree-roots it is! Frodo muses that all his feather-beds have been sold to the Sackvilke-Bagginses, and that tree-roots like the one that has 'made a hole in his back' would do them good.

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
TREE-ROOTS: Much harder than feather-beds!
HOMELESSNESS: Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

[Huinesoron]

I feel like #13 could be something around Orodruin, with the 'marathon... up here... the final one' referencing Sam's repeated references to it as 'the last gasp'.

But... I can find 'run' [marathon] in multiple possible answers (Orodruin, Sammath Naur, and Sauron's Road, which would actually be my preferred answer), but can't make anything useful from the 'morning' part of the clue. 'Dawn' would be nice... but there's no W in any of my options.

Still, maybe I'm just blind, so... SAURON'S ROAD?

hS

EDIT: Is #15 just ROCK[S]? Bilbo thinks of feather-beds while sleeping in the Eyrie, and the text just gives 'the hard rock' as a description for what he's sleeping on instead. ~hS

[Pervinca Took]

I feel like #13 could be something around Orodruin, with the 'marathon... up here... the final one' referencing Sam's repeated references to it as 'the last gasp'.

But... I can find 'run' [marathon] in multiple possible answers (Orodruin, Sammath Naur, and Sauron's Road, which would actually be my preferred answer), but can't make anything useful from the 'morning' part of the clue. 'Dawn' would be nice... but there's no W in any of my options.

Very, very close, and spot on regarding the 'last gasp.' (Except I don't think it's exactly 'repeatedly' - Sam 'knows' it, then in the morning says it, once). ;)
Geographically, you couldn't get any warmer. ;)

Is #15 just ROCK[S]? Bilbo thinks of feather-beds while sleeping in the Eyrie, and the text just gives 'the hard rock' as a description for what he's sleeping on instead. ~hS

Right idea; wrong substance; wrong hobbit.

[Galadriel55]

15. Trying to recall a hobbit conversation about beds. Talan? Ent beds?

[Pervinca Took]

No, but I'll give you a clue. It concerns *one* hobbit, thinking aloud, and is, again, in Book 1.

[Galadriel55]

Another memory guess here - tree roots?

[Pervinca Took]

Accidentally edited my last post instead of quoting it, so quoting it now. Totally correct, G55, (see below), as was Nerwen about the 'double epiphany' Frodo had, about his 'homelessness and danger.'

Tree-roots it is! Frodo muses thst all his featherbeds have been sold to the Sackvilke-Bagginses, and that tree-roots like the one that has 'made a hole in his back' would do them good.

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
11. Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
TREE-ROOTS: Much harder than feather-beds!
HOMELESSNESS: Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

[Galadriel55]

11. Breathing apparatus inevitably suggests lung to me, and map book suggests atlas. But nothing suggests itself to have both!

[Pervinca Took]

Lung is right. The other bit is a map book (more a streetfinder, for finding your way around a town) which *may* only be called this in the UK.

[Huinesoron]

It looks like 'A-Z' is actually a brand name, though it's such a simple idea that I'm sure someone overseas has thought of it too.

Which makes #11 NAZGUL, and a very cheeky clue. ^_~

For #13, I suppose 'Crack(s) of Doom' has a 'crack of dawn' resonance, and 'doom' is the name of the mountain. So maybe that?

hS

[Pervinca Took]

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
8. ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
9. Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
NAZGUL: Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
12. Terror of Cirith Ungol.
13. Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
TREE-ROOTS: Much harder than feather-beds!
HOMELESSNESS: Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

Nazgul is correct. :)

You need a different synonym for 'morning.'

[Huinesoron]

Aha! AMON AMARTH is AM [morning] + marathon scrambled ['around'].

And I'm going to put in a guess of HORROR OF SHELOB for #12.

... are 8 and 9 THIRST and HUNGER, respectively? They kind of fit...

hS

[Pervinca Took]

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
5. Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
THIRST: ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
HUNGER: Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
NAZGUL: Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
HORROR OF SHELOB: Terror of Cirith Ungol.
AMON AMARTH: Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
TREE-ROOTS: Much harder than feather-beds!
HOMELESSNESS: Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

Very well done!

The 'hunger' clue refers to lyrics from the song 'All That You Have Is Your Soul' by Tracy Chapman.

Gollum says there is thirst (amongst other unpleasant things) in Mordor.

Clue 14 is the odd one out. A sort of trick/cheeky clue.

Here are the full lyrics of the Tracy Chapman song. (And I've just cried listening to it again):

All That You Have Is Your Soul

Tracy Chapman

Oh my mama told me*
'Cause she say she learned the hard way*
Say she want to spare the children*
She say don't give or sell your soul away*
'Cause all that you have is your soul

Don't be tempted by the shiny apple*
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit*
Hunger only for a taste of justice*
Hunger only for a world of truth*
'Cause all that you have is your soul

I was a pretty young girl once*
I had dreams I had high hopes*
I married a man he stole my heart away*
He gave his love but what a high price I paid*
And all that you have is your soul

Don't be tempted by the shiny apple*
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit*
Hunger only for a taste of justice*
Hunger only for a world of truth*
'Cause all that you have is your soul

Why was I such a young fool*
Thought I'd make history*
Making babies was the best I could do*
Thought I'd made something that could be mine forever*
Found out the hard way one can't possess another*
And all that you have is your soul

Don't be tempted by the shiny apple*
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit*
Hunger only for a taste of justice*
Hunger only for a world of truth*
'Cause all that you have is your soul

I thought, thought that I could find a way*
To beat the system*
To make a deal and have no debts to pay*
I'd take it all take it all I'd run away*
Me for myself first class and first rate*
But all that you have is your soul

Don't be tempted by the shiny apple*
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit*
Hunger only for a taste of justice*
Hunger only for a world of truth*
'Cause all that you have is your soul

Here I am I'm waiting for a better day*
A second chance*
A little luck to come my way*
A hope to dream a hope that I can sleep again*
And wake in the world with a clear conscience and clean hands*
'Cause all that you have is your soul

Don't be tempted by the shiny apple*
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit*
Hunger only for a taste of justice*
Hunger only for a world of truth*
'Cause all that you have is your soul

Oh my mama told me*
'Cause she say she learned the hard way*
Say she want to spare the children*
She say don't give or sell your soul away*
'Cause all that you have is your soul

All that you have*
All that you have*
All that you have*
Is your soul

[Huinesoron]

Is #14 Tom Bombadil's poems, them? :D

... ah, and #5 is the WATCHER IN THE WATER, addicted to M(ordor)TV.

The theme almost seems to be 'obstacles faced by Frodo', except in that case 'Aragorn's singing' is bizarrely cruel.

What was faced on Caradhras? Avalanche, snow, wolves/wargs (sorta), and a Balrog. Plosives are TKPDGB, and a slithery thing could be a worm or a snake... I guess at one point they used a fire to B[E] W[O>A]RM, but that's a bit too tenuous.

Or I suppose Slowworm + T kind of makes SNOWSTORM, but again...

hS

[Pervinca Took]

1. Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
WATCHER IN THE WATER: Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
THIRST: ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
HUNGER: Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
NAZGUL: Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
HORROR OF SHELOB: Terror of Cirith Ungol.
AMON AMARTH: Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
TREE-ROOTS: Much harder than feather-beds!
HOMELESSNESS: Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

You are very close regarding the theme, and right about the connection with Frodo. (So number 1 can't be Balrog, because only Gandalf had to deal with him on Caradhras itself).

Watcher in the Water is correct.

The slithery creature often has legs, but not always. (Some kinds don't. I 've looked it up).

Bizarrely cruel? Moi? :D No, I just put in a few jokey, light-hearted ones, to stop the puzzle being too maudlin.

Bombadil was a good guess, but I am referring to songs I personally find hilarious, and which have afforded me some of my most enjoyable moments in Tolkien fandom. But some people can't bear to hear them. :D

[Pervinca Took]

I guess at one point they used a fire to B[E] W[O>A]RM, but that's a bit too tenuous.

Really, Hs!

Made me smile, though. :)

P.S. I tend to use 'plosive' for P and B, and 'dental plosive' or 'dental sound' for D and T. And 'velar consonant' for K, hard C and hard G.

[Nerwen]

Blizzard?

[Pervinca Took]

BLIZZARD: Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
2. ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
WATCHER IN THE WATER: Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
THIRST: ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
HUNGER: Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
10. Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
NAZGUL: Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
HORROR OF SHELOB: Terror of Cirith Ungol.
AMON AMARTH: Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
14. To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
TREE-ROOTS: Much harder than feather-beds!
HOMELESSNESS: Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

3 clues to go!

[Nerwen]

So, for the letters we've got-

B_ONWEATH_NHA_THAD

Uh...?

[Pervinca Took]

It's much less obscure than a lot of the First Age names I've seen used as answers in this thread.

But you might want to look at the HOME books that deal with the history of the writing of the LOTR. That is where you will find it, although it is online too.

[Huinesoron]

Aha! A guess at 'Harthad' for the ending turns up BRONWE ATHAN HARTHAD, "Endurance Beyond Hope", a name given to Frodo by Gandalf. Bronwe is a variant of 'Bronwen', ie Voronwe ('Steadfast').

Where in the draft does Gandalf come up with it? It sounds like a post-Quest name, maybe?

(I'm honestly not sure if it counts as less obscure than the various First Age answers. As someone who can both name the Balrog of White Flame and say why he probably wasn't one, I'm probably not best placed to speculate. ^_^)

#2... I was about to say that it must be an anagram, because while 'little Beatrice' is probably 'bea', there's only three Abba songs starting with R, and I can't fit 'bea' into 'Rock Me', 'Rock'n'Roll Band', or 'Ring Ring'.

...

It's 'RING BEARING', isn't it?

#14: Based on the R, is this something like 'Rohirric chants'?

#10: It starts with an A... I would guess it's a nice place which is an anagram for a word meaning slum, but it could be the other way round. No guesses, though.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

BLIZZARD: Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
RINGBEARING: ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
WATCHER IN THE WATER: Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!
AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
THIRST: ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
HUNGER: Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
A: Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
NAZGUL: Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).
HORROR OF SHELOB: Terror of Cirith Ungol.
AMON AMARTH: Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
R: To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
TREE-ROOTS: Much harder than feather-beds!
HOMELESSNESS: Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

PASSWORD: BRONWE ATHAN HARTHAD ('Endurance Beyond Hope' - a name given to Frodo, post-quest, by Gandalf, in an early draft of 'The Lord Of The Rings.')

THEME: Things or experiences endured by the Ringbearer (with number 14 as a trick question/odd one out).

I don't think of it as obscure, because Frodo is not an obscure character. Also, since he's my favourite literary character, not much that's been written about him is obscure to me. ;)

The A clue is much easier than you are making it. As the theme is endurance/suffering, and this is not one of the 'jokey' answers, think about which experience it might refer to.

[Huinesoron]

Is the A-clue AMON SUL? I think it anagrams right from 'no a slum'.

That R clue is still tripping me up. 'Dement' is such a clear key word, but the only thing it's flagging up is from Harry Potter.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

BLIZZARD: Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
RINGBEARING: ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
WATCHER IN THE WATER: Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!

AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
THIRST: ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
HUNGER: Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
AMON SUL: Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
NAZGUL: Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).

HORROR OF SHELOB: Terror of Cirith Ungol.
AMON AMARTH: Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
R: To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
TREE-ROOTS: Much harder than feather-beds!
HOMELESSNESS: Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

PASSWORD: BRONWE ATHAN HARTHAD ('Endurance Beyond Hope' - a name given to Frodo, post-quest, by Gandalf, in an early draft of 'The Lord Of The Rings').

THEME: Things or experiences endured by the Ringbearer (with number 14 as a trick question/odd one out).

Amon Sul indeed, also known as Weathertop, where Frodo received the Morgul-knife wound.

You remember me saying I didn't want to make it too maudlin? Well, I had to find four answers beginning with A, and couldn't bring myself to use 'Amputation.' So I chose three hills to get Amon ----- three times, (each connected with a wounding and/or a difficult experience), and decided to cast wicked aspersions upon Strider's vocal talents. :D Also, the T could have been torment of some kind, but I preferred to choose the more light-hearted 'Tree-roots.'

LAST REMAINING CLUE: Don't worry about 'dement.' It's only there because 'might well dement' is a phrase I absorbed years ago from a war poem. I think it referred to the sound of something.* The things in question here are well-known in Tolkien fandom, but were NOT written by Tolkien himself!

* I've just checked, and it's from 'Six Young Men' by Ted Hughes, one of my O Level poems. I had thought it referred to horrible war sounds that might dement, but I must have conflated that with 'The shrill demented choirs of wailing shells' from 'Anthem For Doomed Youth' by Wilfred Owen. The actual line is 'To regard this photograph might well dement,' - it *does* concern World War One, but it's about a photograph of six young men before they went to war, and how every single one of them died shortly afterwards - in the Great War. The comment means that just *looking* at this photograph could send you mad, (the subsequent slaughter being so senseless and so tragic). (None of which, however, will help you solve the last clue!)

[Pervinca Took]

When Bilbo found his shiny ring
In Gollum's cave of gloooooom,
He didn't know that it would turn
Into a ring of doooooooooommmm.
The dwarves, the elves, the wizards too,
The goblins, the elven-king -
They came to know the power of
The hobbit and his ring:

Frodooooooo of the niiiiiiiiine fingers
And the Ring of Doooooom:
It started with a hobbit
In Gollum's cave of gloooooom.

[Galadriel55]

Ridiculously heroic music? ;) Repetition of the same song over and over again?

[Pervinca Took]

I really can't give much more than I gave in my last post. ;)

[Huinesoron]

... is that from the Rankin-Bass RotK soundtrack?

I would say 'that must be' etc, but given the existence of the legendary Ballad of Bilbo Baggins, it's never a sure thing.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

BLIZZARD: Plosive meets slithery thing (we hear) on Caradhras.
RINGBEARING: ABBA song swallows little Beatrice. It’s exhausting!
ORCS: Oo, they’re awful!
NEEKERBREEKERS: Cousins of Vogons? They torment with onomatopoeia!
WATCHER IN THE WATER: Submerged stalker, or just a wet TV addict?
EMYN MUIL: Lovable rugby player loses surname and liquid, but gains an equine hybrid here, we hear!

AMON HEN: Grumble about chicken? Here?
THIRST: ‘Lotsss of thisss in Mordor, my Preciouss!’ (he gasped).
HUNGER: Do this only for a taste of justice or a world of truth. (The twin of the last clue).
AMON SUL: Nice place? No, a slum. Messed up.
NAZGUL: Breathing apparatus swallows map-book, in confusion. (They’re so bad at finding people, you’d think they had, too).

HORROR OF SHELOB: Terror of Cirith Ungol.
AMON AMARTH: Morning marathon around (or rather up) here – and the final one.
RANKIN-BASS SONGS: To hear these might well dement. Perhaps they were played to Frodo in Cirith Ungol?
TREE-ROOTS: Much harder than feather-beds!
HOMELESSNESS: Hateful road brings epiphany of danger – and this.
ARAGORN'S SINGING: Beren and Luthien, brought to the camp-fire by this.
DEAD MARSHES: Inanimate bogs.

PASSWORD: BRONWE ATHAN HARTHAD ('Endurance Beyond Hope' - a name given to Frodo, post-quest, by Gandalf, in an early draft of 'The Lord Of The Rings').

THEME: Things or experiences endured by the Ringbearer (with number 14 as a trick question/odd one out).

Rankin-Bass songs it is.

And over to Huinesoron!

[Galadriel55]

Hui?

[Huinesoron]

I'm trying, I'm trying. A couple of the clues are proving difficult to put together.

hS

[Huinesoron]

All right then, here we go:

1. - If three (3) is company, then what is five (4)?
2. - Twixt dark below and dark above, below & between.
3. - + 60, -10, still stepping out of the same door.
4. - A place of first meetings, lingering glances, and (nearly) last farewells.
5. - Twenty-second in the line.
6. - A bit sweet, but backward, and if I gave a direct clue it would probably be crude.
7. - Elvish ... and a trio of Beornings.
8. - Gondor calls, "The flaming cursor!"
9. - Not new, not two, not race, not safe.
10. - They could make almost a Hobbit sequel, but Warwick is necessary first.
11. - With a name, he's a stalker above all others; without his name, sing who he is.
12. - Left behind; his namesake is on the Barrow-downs though.
13. - Scrambled in an anagram: retained in the taproom.
14. - Singular, lost in Ladros, in a house by the river.
15. - Bilbo passed, and the Age removed
16. - Before they were grey, they served still.

Yeah... some of these are probably easier than others, and some of them are certainly more robust clues.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

1. Conspiracy?

(4 when Sam dries up).

3. Fifty, the age Bilbo and Frodo step out of their door, so to speak? Or maybe Ringbearer, for the two of them?

4. Bree?

[Pervinca Took]

Cabed Naeramarth?

Whoops! No. Got the B in the wrong place.

[Huinesoron]

1. C onspiracy - If three (3) is company, then what is five (4)?
2. - Twixt dark below and dark above, below & between.
3. - + 60, -10, still stepping out of the same door.
4. - A place of first meetings, lingering glances, and (nearly) last farewells.
5. - Twenty-second in the line.
6. - A bit sweet, but backward, and if I gave a direct clue it would probably be crude.
7. - Elvish ... and a trio of Beornings.
8. - Gondor calls, "The flaming cursor!"
9. - Not new, not two, not race, not safe.
10. - They could make almost a Hobbit sequel, but Warwick is necessary first.
11. - With a name, he's a stalker above all others; without his name, sing who he is.
12. - Left behind; his namesake is on the Barrow-downs though.
13. - Scrambled in an anagram: retained in the taproom.
14. - Singular, lost in Ladros, in a house by the river.
15. - Bilbo passed, and the Age removed
16. - Before they were grey, they served still.

The Conspiracy (in Chapter 5) has four members: Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Fredegar Bolger, poor neglected chap.

For #3, you actually have the right door! But not the right answer. :) And no on Bree or the password.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Ah ... the chapter number. I thought 5 was Sam, Merry, Pippin, Fredegar and Folco, then those minus Sam when Sam was terrified of being turned into a spotted toad.

[Pervinca Took]

11. Eol?

[Huinesoron]

I don't think I'd count Folco as a member of the Conspiracy; if he had been, I imagine he'd have joined the others in Crickhollow.

And not Eol, I'm afraid. You're actually looking for the 'without his name' version in #11.

hS

[Galadriel55]

4. Rivendell?

[Huinesoron]

Not Rivendell. The meetings, glances, and farewells are all from different people, and quite some time apart.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Is 11 Smeagol as the nameless terror- the ghost that drank blood - and the stalker of the Ringbearer?

[Huinesoron]

Nice thought, but no. 'Sing' is relevant here.

Also I might be being a little unfair with 'stalker', but... not by much. (Serial harasser, for sure.)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Daeron?

16. Gimli's socks? :D

[Pervinca Took]

Is 3 something to do with sailing west, given that Sam did so 60 years after Frodo, I think?

[Mithalwen]

I thought the answer to 1 was orgy for a moment..though 4 indicated letter in answer...eep


On safer ground, I will hazard for 5, Imrahil, wind prince of Dol Amroth

[Pervinca Took]

8. Red Arrow?

Could 4 be the Grey Havens? Ist meeting of Gandalf and Cirdan ....

[Galadriel55]

Weird thought - 11. Tom Bombadil?

Edit: never mind, missed some of your comments on that one :o

[Pervinca Took]

On safer ground, I will hazard for 5, Imrahil, wind prince of Dol Amroth

Cousin of Forlong the Flatulent? :D

[Aganzir]

Is 4 Cerin Amroth?

[Huinesoron]

Wow, lots to get through here!

1. C onspiracy - If three (3) is company, then what is five (4)?
2. - Twixt dark below and dark above, below & between.
3. - + 60, -10, still stepping out of the same door.
4. - A place of first meetings, lingering glances, and (nearly) last farewells.
5. I mrahil - Twenty-second in the line.
6. - A bit sweet, but backward, and if I gave a direct clue it would probably be crude.
7. - Elvish ... and a trio of Beornings.
8. R ed Arrow - Gondor calls, "The flaming cursor!"
9. - Not new, not two, not race, not safe.
10. - They could make almost a Hobbit sequel, but Warwick is necessary first.
11. - With a name, he's a stalker above all others; without his name, sing who he is.
12. - Left behind; his namesake is on the Barrow-downs though.
13. - Scrambled in an anagram: retained in the taproom.
14. - Singular, lost in Ladros, in a house by the river.
15. - Bilbo passed, and the Age removed
16. - Before they were grey, they served still.

So that's no on 11 Daeron (he's not the one singing), no on 16 Gimli's socks (:rolleyes:), no on 3 sailing west (the 60 is indeed years, though), yes on 5 Imrahil, yes on 8 Red Arrow, no on 4 Grey Havens (though you're pretty close; consider the 'nearly'), no on 11 Tom Bombadil (see previous comment on 11), and no on 4 Cerin Amroth (though that's a great guess).

I think I got them all?

hS

[Aganzir]

I'm going to guess...

14: Eilinel (although 'singular' eludes me here)

16: The púkel-men

(This is what happens when I return to the Downs - I get no work done. :D)

[Huinesoron]

I'm going to guess...

14: Eilinel (although 'singular' eludes me here)

16: The púkel-men

(This is what happens when I return to the Downs - I get no work done. :D)

No and no, I'm afraid. #14 has both a cryptic and a straight clue, and #16... you're actually kind of in the right place!

(You're telling me! I'm practically new here and I keep writing crosswords instead of working... :D)

hS

[Aganzir]

Ha, is 16 the Oathbreakers then?

14 could also be Beren, who never became the Lord of Ladros and died in Tol Galen... and only had a singular hand. :D

[Huinesoron]

Neither of those either, I'm afraid.

Ladros itself is not actually involved in the Ladros answer. :)

hS

[Aganzir]

So hard! :D

Does 16 have something to do with the Drúedain?

[Huinesoron]

So hard! :D

Does 16 have something to do with the Drúedain?

It does not, except that the Pukel-Men were witness to something relevant to the clue.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

The nearly last farewell I'm thinking of was near Bombadil's, but I can't remember exactly where.

[Huinesoron]

I'd go with 'nearby' rather than 'almost'.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Maybe the Tower Hills? Sam's last farewell to Elanor.

[Huinesoron]

1. C onspiracy - If three (3) is company, then what is five (4)?
2. - Twixt dark below and dark above, below & between.
3. - + 60, -10, still stepping out of the same door.
4. T ower Hills - A place of first meetings, lingering glances, and (nearly) last farewells.
5. I mrahil - Twenty-second in the line.
6. - A bit sweet, but backward, and if I gave a direct clue it would probably be crude.
7. - Elvish ... and a trio of Beornings.
8. R ed Arrow - Gondor calls, "The flaming cursor!"
9. - Not new, not two, not race, not safe.
10. - They could make almost a Hobbit sequel, but Warwick is necessary first.
11. - With a name, he's a stalker above all others; without his name, sing who he is.
12. - Left behind; his namesake is on the Barrow-downs though.
13. - Scrambled in an anagram: retained in the taproom.
14. - Singular, lost in Ladros, in a house by the river.
15. - Bilbo passed, and the Age removed
16. - Before they were grey, they served still.

Was it? I didn't actually remember that! The Tower Hills were the site of the first meeting between the Numenoreans and the men of Middle-earth; the site of Elendil's palantir which let him cast 'lingering glances' into the West; and close to the Grey Havens and the last farewells that take place there.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

12. Merry, who was left behind? There is a Merrymatt on the Downs.

[Huinesoron]

I see where the thought came from, but no.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Is 16 just the Havens?

[Galadriel55]

Does 15 have something to do with Old Took? Bilbo passed his age near the turn of the Age.

[Huinesoron]

Not the Havens, I'm afraid, but:

1. C onspiracy - If three (3) is company, then what is five (4)?
2. - Twixt dark below and dark above, below & between.
3. - + 60, -10, still stepping out of the same door.
4. T ower Hills - A place of first meetings, lingering glances, and (nearly) last farewells.
5. I mrahil - Twenty-second in the line.
6. - A bit sweet, but backward, and if I gave a direct clue it would probably be crude.
7. - Elvish ... and a trio of Beornings.
8. R ed Arrow - Gondor calls, "The flaming cursor!"
9. - Not new, not two, not race, not safe.
10. - They could make almost a Hobbit sequel, but Warwick is necessary first.
11. - With a name, he's a stalker above all others; without his name, sing who he is.
12. - Left behind; his namesake is on the Barrow-downs though.
13. - Scrambled in an anagram: retained in the taproom.
14. - Singular, lost in Ladros, in a house by the river.
15. O ld Took - Bilbo passed, and the Age removed
16. - Before they were grey, they served still.

'Age Removed' is a direct thesauriation of 'Old Took'. ^_^

hS

[Aganzir]

It does not, except that the Pukel-Men were witness to something relevant to the clue.

hS
Aghan's feet, after his watch-stone put out the fire? :D

There's also the Grey Company - whose passing the Púkel-Men witnessed - but I can't quite connect it to the clue.

Could 2 be the Bridge of Khazad-dûm?

[Huinesoron]

The Grey Company is the right people - but not the right answer. Check the first word of the clue. :)

Not the bridge for #2; this is another clue with both a straight(ish) and a cryptic part.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Rangers?

[Huinesoron]

I mean, you could have been more specific, but I'm not going to quibble:

1. C onspiracy - If three (3) is company, then what is five (4)?
2. - Twixt dark below and dark above, below & between.
3. - + 60, -10, still stepping out of the same door.
4. T ower Hills - A place of first meetings, lingering glances, and (nearly) last farewells.
5. I mrahil - Twenty-second in the line.
6. - A bit sweet, but backward, and if I gave a direct clue it would probably be crude.
7. - Elvish ... and a trio of Beornings.
8. R ed Arrow - Gondor calls, "The flaming cursor!"
9. - Not new, not two, not race, not safe.
10. - They could make almost a Hobbit sequel, but Warwick is necessary first.
11. - With a name, he's a stalker above all others; without his name, sing who he is.
12. - Left behind; his namesake is on the Barrow-downs though.
13. - Scrambled in an anagram: retained in the taproom.
14. - Singular, lost in Ladros, in a house by the river.
15. O ld Took - Bilbo passed, and the Age removed
16. R angers of the North - Before they were grey, they served still.

(As opposed to the Rangers of Ithilien, of course.)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Does 10 refer to Warwick Davies, who played the hero in the film 'Willow' - which featured many little people?

Could the answer be Willow(s)?

[Pervinca Took]

I *meant* the northern ones.

Mablung has never even glimpsed the Watford Gap!

And as for trying to get decent mushy peas out of Damrod ....

[Huinesoron]

Does 10 refer to Warwick Davies, who played the hero in the film 'Willow' - which featured many little people?

Could the answer be Willow(s)?

#10 does refer to Warwick Davies, and Willow is in the answer...

I *meant* the northern ones.

Mablung has never even glimpsed the Watford Gap!

And as for trying to get decent mushy peas out of Damrod ....

:D There are so many possibilities inherent in T'Rangers of t'North. Where 'ast tha bin sin' Ah saw thee/On Dead Man's Dike baht 'at?

hS

[Pervinca Took]

All Rangers of the North are Grand-Masters of Eckythump, of course.

…

Willow men?

…

Although, having looked up the film, Willow and his friends are DWARVES?

[Huinesoron]

To be more precise, I mean that the word 'willow' is in the answer. :)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Willow-meads of Tasarinan (nen?)

[Huinesoron]

Nope. Keep trying!

Imagine they were making a sequel to the almost-Hobbit that Warwick Davis starred in.

hS

[Aganzir]

Is there any chance (no?) that 9 is Tom Bombadil? Not new = oldest, not two = ?, not race = fatherless, not safe = BOMB. :D

[Huinesoron]

Is there any chance (no?) that 9 is Tom Bombadil? Not new = oldest, not two = ?, not race = fatherless, not safe = BOMB. :D

Hah! No, but one of your guesses comes close to the right interpretation for that part of the clue.

(I should probably note that one of the four 'nots' is a straight clue, and the others join together to give the answer.)

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Willow people? Sons of Willow? Willowlings? Willow's children?

I only saw the film once, and it was years ago!

The PALANTIRI for not new, not two, not safe, not race?

[Huinesoron]

Ah, yes, the Sons of Willow, those famous Middle-earth characters. :) Perhaps instead of his kids, you could have Warwick Davis come back - but he wouldn't be playing young Willow any more, would he?

Not the Palantiri, I'm afraid.

hS

[Pervinca Took]

Willow lands?

[Huinesoron]

Nope.

[Pervinca Took]

Old Man Willow?

[Huinesoron]

1. C onspiracy - If three (3) is company, then what is five (4)?
2. - Twixt dark below and dark above, below & between.
3. - + 60, -10, still stepping out of the same door.
4. T ower Hills - A place of first meetings, lingering glances, and (nearly) last farewells.
5. I mrahil - Twenty-second in the line.
6. - A bit sweet, but backward, and if I gave a direct clue it would probably be crude.
7. - Elvish ... and a trio of Beornings.
8. R ed Arrow - Gondor calls, "The flaming cursor!"
9. - Not new, not two, not race, not safe.
10. O ld Man Willow - They could make almost a Hobbit sequel, but Warwick is necessary first.
11. - With a name, he's a stalker above all others; without his name, sing who he is.
12. - Left behind; his namesake is on the Barrow-downs though.
13. - Scrambled in an anagram: retained in the taproom.
14. - Singular, lost in Ladros, in a house by the river.
15. O ld Took - Bilbo passed, and the Age removed
16. R angers of the North - Before they were grey, they served still.

There ya go! Old Wo/Man [Blank] is currently a thing in comic books - I think Wolverine, Hawkeye, Harley Quinn, and the Phoenix have all had the title recently. A Willow sequel (where 'almost a Hobbit' in the clue = Willow, therefore 'almost a Hobbit sequel') could do worse than following the trend.

Look, you give us clues from 19th century literature, I get to respond with comic books. ^_~

hS